Method and apparatus for holding patterns on a surface

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for holding patterns on a lay marker table so that the patterns will be held absolutely flat within an airtight envelope and therefore immobile with respect to the surface of the table so that the patterns may be accurately reproduced on a piece of sensitized copy material, the apparatus including a pair of opposed sheets of self-adhering material overlying the surface of the table, there being a porous spacer member disposed between the sheets and coextensive therewith with the exception of marginal stretches of the material which circumscribe the porous member whereby the sheets may be sealed together along the marginal stretches with the porous member permitting the withdrawal of air from between the sheets to thereby present an airtight enclosure and flatten the patterns between the sheets. The method of holding the article to be reproduced on the surface by use of said apparatus includes the steps of placing a first sheet of material on the surface; positioning the patterns on the first sheet of material; placing a second sheet of material and the porous spacer member over the patterns; sealing the edges of the sheets together by virtue of their self-adhering nature; and withdrawing air from between the sheets whereby to cause the same to flatten the patterns with respect to the surface and thereby immobilize the same against movement.

United States Patent Kranz et al.

[54] METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR HOLDING PATTERNS ON A SURFACE [72] Inventors: Hugo E. Kranz, Overland Park; Kenneth R. Kranz, Mission, both of Kans.

[73] Assignee: Replica Associates, Inc.

[22] Filed: June 12, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 45,873

3,420,608 l/l969 Canale; ..355/9l 2,228,645 l/l94l Schmitz.... ...38/l02.6 3,482,343 12/1969 Hamu ..38/l02.5

Primary Examiner.lames T. McCall Assistant Examiner-Darrell Marquette Attorney-Schmidt, Johnson, Hovey & Williams [151 3,658,014 51 Apr. 25, 1972 57 ABSTRACT Apparatus for holding patterns on a lay marker table so that the patterns will be held absolutely flat within an airtight envelope and therefore immobile with respect to the surface of the table so that the patterns may be accurately reproduced on a piece of sensitized copy material, the apparatus including a pair of opposed sheets of self-adhering material overlying the surface of the table, there being a porous spacer member disposed between the sheets and coextensive therewith with the exception of marginal stretches of the material which circumscribe the porous member whereby the sheets may be sealed together along the marginal stretches with the porous member permitting the withdrawal of air from between the sheets to thereby present an airtight enclosure and flatten the patterns between the sheets. The method of holding the article to be reproduced on the surface by use of said apparatus includes the steps of placing a first sheet of material on the surface; positioning the patterns on the first sheet of material; placing a second sheet of material and the porous spacer member over the patterns; sealing the edges of the sheets together by virtue of their self-adhering nature; and withdrawing air from between the sheets whereby to cause the same to flatten the patterns with respect to the surface and thereby immobilize the same against movement.

2 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTEUAPR 25 I972 3,658,014

. INVEN '1 0R3. Hugo E. Kranz BY Kennefh R. Kranz 4 T TORNEYS.

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR l-IOLDING PATTERNS ON A SURFACE .It is the primary object of thisinvention to provide a method and apparatus for holding patterns with respect to the surface ofa photo lay marker table whereby said patterns will be retained in an absolutely flat condition and against individual movement or slippage, which method and apparatus represents an improvement over our US. Pat. No. 3,512,487. The patterns may then be accurately reproduced upon a piece of sensitized material through the operation of a photo lay marker table of the type described in our U.S. Pat. No. 3,446,162, or any other suitable light table surface.

It is the most important object of this invention to provide apparatus for holding patterns and at least one sheet of sensitized copy material with respect to the surface of a lay marker table, which apparatus includes a pair of opposed sheets of self-adhering material overlying the surface of a marker table, there being a porous spacer member disposed between said opposed sheets and possibly secured to one of said sheets whereby to permit evacuation ofair from between the sheets when they are in said overlying relationship. When so positioned, the sheets present marginal stretches which are in face-to-face, engaged sealing relationship, thereby defining an airtight enclosure surrounding said porous spacer member, the patterns and the sheet of sensitized copy material.

It is a further important object of this invention to provide a spacer member which is of a porous material whereby air may freely pass therethrough, the spacer member being disposed between the two sheets of self-adhering material and generally coextensive therewith except that marginal stretches of said self-adhering sheets of material are presented without the boundaries of the spacer member, which marginal stretches are in face-to-face, self-adhering, sealing relationship when the sheets are both positioned in overlying relationship to the surface of the lay marker table whereby to define an airtight enclosure for the porous member, said porous member permitting rapid and complete evacuation of air from within the airtight enclosure.

Yet another important object of this particular invention is to provide a rib which is raised with respect to the surface upon which the sheets are to be positioned, the rib being positioned in such a location as to deform the normally lowermost sheet of material whereby to turn an edge thereof upwardly and define a longitudinally extending pocket or groove which tends to receive the marginal stretch of the normally uppermost sheet of material whereby to insure a tight sealing engagement between the face-to-face engageable marginal stretches of the sheets.

Yet another object is to provide apparatus for placing at least one sheet of material under tension whereby to aid in the evacuation of air from the airtight enclosure.

Other objects of this invention will become apparent from the following specification and accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a lay marker table showing the apparatus in place thereon;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary, perspective view of the top of a lay marker table showing the components of the apparatus for holding the patterns in place thereupon;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary, cross-sectional view of one corner of the lay marker table showing the apparatus in position thereupon;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional view of the table showing the apparatus thereupon with the patterns disposed between the sheets; and

FIG. 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional view showing a modified form of air outlet formed with one of the sheets.

A photo lay marker table, broadly designated by the numeral and of the type disclosed in US. Pat. No. 3,446,162, is provided with a top 12 having suitable supporting structure whereby to position the top 12 at a convenient and comfortable working levelin a normally horizontal position, the lay marker table being used in reproducing patterns or copies used in various industries by reproducing an image of the original patterns upon a suitable piece of sensitized copy material. While the term patterns is generally used hereinafter to designate the article to be reproduced in the particular embodiment of the invention chosen for illustration, said term is not to be considered as limiting, but rather as encompassing any comparable physical article capable of reproduction by the method and apparatus hereinafter described.

The top 12 of the table 10 is defined by a frame 14 which is made of any suitable material, the frame presenting a pair of opposed sidewalls 16 and a pair of end walls 18, said walls normally being vertically disposed as illustrated in the drawing. The end walls 18 are spaced outwardly from end partitions 20 which define the enclosure of the frame 14 which receives a plurality of light tubes 22, there being an elongated aperture 24 between partitions 20 and each of their corresponding end walls 18 for purposes which will hereinafter become apparent.

Frame 14 also includes a horizontally positioned rail 26 whichextends inwardly in a horizontal plane from the upper edge of sidewalls 16 and end partitions 20 whereby to circumscribe a fiat sheet of transparent material 28, which sheet of material 28 is supported by the light tubes 22, the sheet 28 normally being formed of glass or other suitabletransparent material and presenting the working surface for the lay marker table 10.

Sheet 28 has a pair of opposed surfaces, there being a first normally lowermost surface 30 which is in direct contact with the light tubes 22, and a second, normally uppermost surface 32 which is provided with suitable indicia 34 whereby to aid in the use of the lay marker table 10. In the embodiment chosen for illustration, indicia 34 consists of a plurality of longitudinal and transverse grid lines which cover the entire surface 32 at predetermined intervals whereby to permit exact positioning of the patterns as the same are placed with respect to the top 12 of the table 10. The normally uppermost surface 32 of sheet 28 is in substantial alignment with the upper surface 36 of the circumscribing rail 26 whereby to present an essentially fiat surface for the entire top 12 of table 10, with the exception of a rib 38 which is raised with respect to said surface and, more particularly, with respect to the surface 36 of rail 26, the rib being generally triangular in transverse cross section, and being positioned upon the top 12 of table 10 in such a manner as to engage sheets which are placed in overlying relationship to the top 12 in a manner which will be hereinafter described in greater detail.

The apparatus for holding the patterns with respect to the top 12 of table 10 includes a first transparent, relatively flexible sheet of self-adhering material 40 which is at least as large as the area of sheet of glass 28 andis positioned to overlie said sheet 28 when the apparatus is in use. Overlying first sheet 40 are a plurality of patterns 42 to be reproduced and at least one piece of sensitized copy material 44.

A second transparent, relatively flexible sheet of self-adhering material 46 overlies the patterns 42 and copy material 44 and has secured to the face 48 thereof proximal to tabletop 12, a porous spacer member 50, which member 50 is generally coextensive with sheets of material 40 and 46 except that each of said sheets 40 and 46 presents a marginal stretch 52 and 54 respectively lying without the boundaries of the spacer member 50.

The marginal stretches 52 of sheet 40 and 54 of sheet 46, circumscribe each of said sheets and lie without the four boundaries of the member 50. Stretches 52 and 54 are in face-toface engagement when the apparatus is in use, as shown for instance in FIGS. 3 and 4 of the drawing, and the self-adhering nature of the material from which sheets 40 and 46 are formed causes the marginal stretches 52 and 54 to seal themselves together thereby creating an airtight enclosure about the patterns 42, copy paper 44, and member 50.

To insure that the marginal stretches 52 and 54 seal themselves together in the desired manner, the rib 38 is positioned at such a location that when sheet 40 is initially lowered atop sheet 28, the outermost edges of the sheet 40 are turned upwardly as at 56 whereby to define a pocket or groove 58 which is positioned at all of the outer edges of the sheet 40. When sheet 46 is ultimately lowered into overlying relationship with sheet 40, the outer edge of sheet 46, which lies within the outer edges of sheet 40, will be received within the pocket 58 thereby insuring a tight and secure seal between the marginal stretches of the two sheets of self-adhering material. It has been found that Mylar plastic is suitable for the fabrication of sheets 40 and 46 although any suitable transparent plastic material might be utilized in forming said sheets 40 and 46.

Likewise, it has been found that a porous foam plastic material such as Lan-Tuck is best utilized in fabricating the spacer member 50, although any other suitable material might be used. It will be appreciated that the material from which member 50 is fabricated must be sufficiently porous to permit the free passage of air therethrough inasmuch as when the sheets 40 and 46 are brought into the sealing relationship hereinabove described, air is evacuated from the airtight enclosure thus presented through an air outlet 60 formed in sheet 40, which air outlet is suitably coupled with a vacuum pump whereby air may be readily withdrawn from between the sheets 40 and 46 thereby pulling said sheets together in tight relationship and insuring that patterns 42 are not capable of moving within the airtight enclosure or envelope. It will be further readily recognized that the presence of spacer member 50 precludes the sheets 40 and 46 from sealing themselves together by virtue "of their self-adhering nature at any location except about the marginal stretches thereof where such sealing is desired.

In order to aid in the free flow if air as it is being withdrawn from the airtight enclosure, there is provided a tensioning apparatus 62 at one or both ends of the frame 14 whereby to stretch said sheet 40 and place the same under tension, thereby aiding in the flow of air therealong and into the outlet opening 60 under urging of the evacuation pump (not shown).

The tensioning apparatus consists of a clamp 64 which is secured to the end edge of sheet 40, there being an adjustable bar 66 spanning aperture 24 and adjustable with respect to sidewall 16 of frame 14, the bar 66 being connected to the clamp 64 as by threaded rods 68. In this manner of attachment, fine tensioning can be accomplished through utilization of rods 68 while the general tensioning of sheets 40 can be accomplished by moving bar 66 with respect to sidewalls 16 and then clamping the same as by engagement of screws 70 in slots 72. It will be appreciated that tensioning apparatus such as 62 could be positioned at either one or both ends of the sheet 40 or could, for that matter, be utilized in connection with both sheet 40 and sheet 46.

Furthermore, the placing of at least sheet 40 under tension insures an even more accurate reproduction of the patterns 42 onto the sheet 44 of copy material and if a weak exposure should occur in that area disposed between light tubes 22, then the entire airtight envelope can be slightly shifted as by utilizing threaded rods 68 to shift the entire airtight enclosure, including patterns 42 and copy paper 44, to permit reactivation of the lights 22 and thus a strong exposure onto copy paper 44 at all locations.

FIG. of the drawing illustrates an alternative embodiment of the invention in the form of means for evacuating air from the enclosure through the top sheet 46 rather than through the normally lowermost sheet 40 as is illustrated in FIG. 3 of the drawing. Specifically, the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG. 5 comprises a suction cup 74 which is in communication with the vacuum pump through a tube 76, the cup 74 having a plate 78 and 21 depending circumscribing skirt 80, the cup 74 being positionable atop the sheet 46, there being an opening such as 82 provided through the sheet 46 whereby air may be withdrawn from between the sheets 40 and 46 by the alternate type of device 74. When it is desired to shift the entire airtight enclosure as hereinabove mentioned, it is preferable that the air be withdrawn through top sheet 46 as by the apparatus shown in FIG. 5 of the drawing inasmuch as such permits ready movement of the entire envelope. Furthermore, if it is desired to continuously expose a large number of patterns over a limited area of light source, the patterns can be placed in an envelope, the desired exposure made, and then the entire envelope shifted whereby to move the patterns which have been reproduced away from overlying relationship to the light source and move into overlying relationship to the light source a second group of patterns which are still within the same airtight enclosure. The enclosure can be maintained through the utilization of an air withdrawal apparatus as shown in FIG. 5 and a vacuum pump which has an extendable reel-type hose '76.

The apparatus hereinabove described is used in carrying out the method of holding the patterns with respect to the glass sheet 28 in the following manner. The normally lowermost sheet of flexible transparent material 40 is positioned atop the glass sheet 28, and initially placed under suitable tension. Inasmuch as sheet 40 is transparent, the indicia 34 are then utilized to position patterns 42 on the then uppermost surface of sheet 40. Once the patterns have been positioned, a sheet of copy material 44 is placed over the patterns and the second sheet of self-adhering material 46 is then lowered into overlying relationship with the first sheet 40 thereof. In the embodiment chosen for illustration, the spacer member 50 has been shown as being secured to the normally lowermost face of sheet 46 although it will be appreciated that member 50 could be individually utilized without being secured to said sheet 46. As the second sheet 46 is lowered, the marginal stretch 54 thereof engages marginal stretch 52 of sheet 40 and, in view of the self-adhering nature of the material, a seal is created therebetween, the rib 38 insuring that a suitable airtight seal is created between the sheets 40 and 46. Air is then evacuated from between the sheets as by withdrawing the same through air outlet 60 by a suitable vacuum pump, it being noted that the member 50 overlies the air outlet 60 and is disposed between the major portion of sheets 40 and 46 whereby to prevent the same from sealing together with any area except those marginal stretches where such sealing is desired. Suitable airflow from between the sheets may be accomplished through utilization of tensioning apparatus 62. Once the airtight enclosure has been created, the lights 22 are actuated whereby to project light through sheet 40 and onto the sensitized material 44 thus reproducing the pattern in image upon the sheet 44, the patterns having been held absolutely flat by -virtue of being disposed within the airtight enclosure and between the two sheets of material. The seal between the sheets of material is then broken as by lifting the uppermost sheet and the patterns and sensitized copy paper may be removed.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. Apparatus for holding patterns on a surface comprising:

a pair of opposed sheets of self-adhering material overlying said surface, the patterns being between the sheets;

a porous spacer member disposed between said opposed sheets of material;

means sealing the edges of said sheets together whereby to present an airtight enclosure, said means including faceto face engageable marginal stretches on each of said sheets extending beyond said porous member;

a rib raised with respect to said surface and positioned to deform one of said sheets angularly to define a pocket for receiving the marginal stretch of the other sheet whereby to insure face-to-face, self-adhering engagement between the marginal stretches of said sheets; and

means for withdrawing air from the enclosure to thereby flatten said patterns between said sheets.

2. In combination 'with a lay marker table having a flat sheet of transparent material with a pair of opposed surfaces, one of said surfaces being in contact with a plurality of closely spaced light tubes whereby said tubes support said sheet, the other surface having patterns positioned with respect thereto, apparatus for holding the patterns in a fixed, flat position relative to said other surfaces comprising:

extending beyond said porous member;

a rib raised with respect to said surface and positioned to deform one of said sheets angularly to define a pocket for receiving the marginal stretch of the other sheet whereby to insure face-to-face, self-adhering engagementbetween the marginal stretches of said sheets; and

means for withdrawing air from said enclosure to thereby flatten said patterns between said opposed sheets. 

1. Apparatus for holding patterns on a surface comprising: a pair of opposed sheets of self-adhering material overlying said surface, the patterns being between the sheets; a porous spacer member disposed between said opposed sheets of material; means sealing the edges of said sheets together whereby to present an airtight enclosure, said means including face-toface engageable marginal stretches on each of said sheets extending beyond said porous member; a rib raised with respect to said surface and positioned to deform one of said sheets angularly to define a pocket for receiving the marginal stretch of the other sheet whereby to insure face-to-face, self-adhering engagement between the marginal stretches of said sheets; and means for withdrawing air from the enclosure to thereby flatten said patterns between said sheets.
 2. In combination with a lay marker table having a flat sheet of transparent material with a pair of opposed surfaces, one of said surfaces being in contact with a plurality of closely spaced light tubes whereby said tubes support said sheet, the other surface having patterns positioned with respect thereto, apparatus for holding the patterns in a fixed, flat position relative to said other surfaces comprising: a pair of opposed sheets of self-adhering material overlying said other surface, the patterns being positioned between said sheets; a porous spacer member disposed between said opposed sheets of material; means sealing the edges of said opposed sheets together whereby to present an airtight enclosure for said spacer member and said patterns, said means including face-to-face engageable marginal stretches on each of said sheets extending beyond said porous member; a rib raised with respect to said surface and positioned to deform one of said sheets angularly to define a pocket for receiving the marginal stretch of the other sheet whereby to insure face-to-face, self-adhering engagement between the marginal stretches of said sheets; and means for withdrawing air from said enclosure to thereby flatten said patterns between said opposed sheets. 